Circuit-breaker for electric igniters for explosive-engines.



No. 693,372. vlwmnfadl'Feb. ls, 19012.'

F. E. cANnA. y clcul BnEAKl-:n Fon ELEcTmc- IGNITERSFOREX'PLUSI'VEENGINES.

. (Application med Apr. 14, 1900.) (No Model.)

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, ATENT FFICE.

FERDINAND E. oANDA, on NEw YORK, N. Y.

CIRCUIT-B REAKER FOR ELECTRIC IGNITERS FOR EXPLOSIVE-ENGINES.

SPECIFJLGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 693,372, datedFebruary 18, 1902 Appiietiioniedtpiii14,1900. stanno. 12,329.v (Nomodel.)

T aw whmn it may concern:

Be it known that 1, FERDINAND E. CANDA,

a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county ofNew York and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Circuit-B reakers for Electric Igniters forExplosive-Engines; and I do hereby declare thefollo-.v'ing to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the'art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

My invention relates generally to the igniting mechanism of explosive orinternaly combustion engines, and'more particularly to thecircuit-breaking devices employed in iguiting mechanism of the so-calledjumpspark type; and my invention consists in the novel construction ofthe operating-cam,

V in the novel construction of the circuit-interrupting devices operatedby the cam, and generallyin the novel combination, construction, andarrangement of the parts.

The objects of my invention are to improve the construction ofcircuit-breaking devices of the class described, to obtain each timethey cam revolves a succession of sparks, to obtain thorough lubricationof the rubbing-su r- I breaker with the cover removed. Fig. 2 shows 4o.

a vertical section of the circuit-breaker, taken on the line X X ofFig.l l and looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 3 shows ahorizontal section of the circuit-breaker, taken on the line Y Y of Fig.l looking in the di-4 rection of the arrows. Fig. 4 is a viewsimi lar toFig. l, showing, however, a slightly` dierent form of cam and arearrangement of the contact-springs required by said cam; and Fig. 5isa detail view of the form of cam shown in Fig. 4.

The drawings show the circuit-breakin g device attached to thegear-case, which incloses l the gears by which the valve mechanism of anexplosive-engine (not shown) is operated.

In the drawings, a designates the crankshaft of the engine,and h and cgears by which the igniting device and valve-gear of the engine aredriven', gear b being keyed To shaft a and gear-c being keyed to shaftcl. Said gears are inclosed by a case e, which may be secured totheengine-frame and in which shaft d is mounted.

Upon the bossfof case e is mounted a block 'g, composed of`r fiber 'orother suitable insulating'material. This block carries thecontact-springs hereinafter mentioned. Upon the shaft d is keyed aface-cam 7L, consisting of a disk having in one face a concentric groovei'. At one point in this groove there is a projection or lugj, whichserves to cause after mentioned. A pillar lo projects from the block c,and to it is secured a flat spring Z, forming a follower for the cam 7Land carrying a shoe m, which works in the groove of the cam. Anotherspring n is located over the spring land is secured at one end by ondpillar o. A third pillarp passes through an opening in the opposite endof spring n and is providedwith nuts by which the amplitude of vibrationof said spring may be adjusted. The springs Z and nare provided withplatinum contact-pieces q. Suitable bindingposts electrically connectedto springs l and n are provided'.

The operation of this circuit-breaking delugjat one point in eachrevolution encounters the shoe m of the spring l and lifts said shoeAand spring, causing the latter also 'to lift the spring l and bringingthe contactpieces q together. As soon aslugj has passed the shoe m theresiliency of spring Z causes it to return to its former position andthen to vibrate, the resiliency of spring n likewise causing it to dothe same. The simultaneous vibration of these two springs causes theircontact-pieces q to make and break contact in'rapid succession a number'of times each time the cam h sets them in vibration, thus producing asuccession of brief andsharp sparks at lthe sparking terminals of theigniting mechanism, and if the iirst'spark fails the vibration of thecontact-springs hereinmeans of adjustable clamping-nuts to a sec--viceis as follows: As the cam h rotates the to cause ignition one of thesucceeding sparks will surely prove effective.

In order to vary the point of ignition in the engine-cylinder,the blockgis movably mounted upon the boss f, and a rod r, which may be connectedto asuitable operating-handle, (not shown,) is connected to the blockfor the purpose of moving it. The motion of said block g is limited bystuds s, working in suitable slots in the block g.

Heretofore in circuit-breaking devices employing a cam and aspring-pressed shoe riding thereon difficulty has been experienced inmaintaining proper lubrication between the cam and shoe. The shoe hasusually been arranged to press against the periphery of the cam. Whenthe parts are so arranged, the lubricant tends to run off from the cam.In the device herein described the springpressed shoe rides in a groovein the side of the cam, and this groove retains the lubricant placedtherein. Smooth running of the circuit-breaking device without excessivewear is thereby insured.

If preferred, instead of employing a cam with a projecting lug]` foroperating the contact-pieces I may employ a cam t, similar to cam 7L,but having a depression or orifice u instead of the lug. In such casethe relation of the spring contact-piecesi n will be reversed, spring Zbeing placed above spring-n. The operation of this circuit-breakingdevice is the same as that of the device shown in Figs. l, 2, and 3. Thecam and Vibrating contact-springs are inclosed by a cover o, held inplace by suitable nuts.

Having thus completely described my invention, what I claim, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a circuit-breaker, the combination,

with a cam adapted to cause vibration of a vibratory follower, and meansfor operating the cam, of a vibratory follower therefor, and a secondvibrator adapted to be set in vibration by said follower when the latteris-actuated, and to make and break contact with said follower in suchvibration, whereby a succession of sparks may be produced, each time thefollower is operated.

2. In a circuit-breaker, the combination, with a rotary cam adapted tocause vibration of a vibratory follower, and means for operating thecam, of two spring vibrators, one forming a follower for the cam andarranged to be set in vibration thereby, and the other adapted to be setin vibration by said springfollower when so actuated, and to make andbreak contact with said follower in such vibration, whereby' asuccession of sparks may be produced, each time the follower isoperated.

3. In a circuit-breaker, the combination, with a rotary cam adapted tocause vibration of a vibratory follower and means for operating the camof two intersecting leaf-springs one forming a follower for the cam andarranged to be set in vibration thereby, and the otheradapted to be setin vibration by said first spring when it is so actuated, and to makeand break contact therewith in its vibration, whereby a succession ofsparks may be produced, each time the follower is operated.

4. In a circuit-breaker, the combination, with a rotary cam adapted tocause the vibration of a vibratory follower, and means for operating thecam, of a pivoted support, avibratory follower for the cam, carried bysaid support, and a second vibrator adapted to be set in vibration bysaid follower when the latter is actuated, and to make and break contactwith said follower in such Vibration, whereby a succession ot' sparksmay be produced, each time the follower is operated, and means formoving said support about its pivot, thereby varying the point at whichthe follower is operated.

5. In a circuit-breaker, the combination, with a rotary cam having agroove adapted to receive a shoe of a follower, said cam being arrangedto actuate such follower, of a springfollower, provided with a shoeriding in such groove, and means, operated by said follower when set inmotion by said cam, for controlling an electric circuit.

6. In a circuit-breaker, the combination, with a rotary cam having inone side a facegroove adapted to receive a shoe of a follower, said cambeing adapted to cause vibration of such follower, of a vibratoryfollower having a shoe riding in said groove, and a vibrator adapted tobe set in vibration by said follower when the latter is actuated, and tomake and break contact with said follower in such vibration, whereby asuccession of sparks may be produced, each time the follower isoperated.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

FERDINAND E. CANDA.

Witnesses:

E. H. TUCKER, A. H. PERLES.

IOC)

